Mary Saunders

The Declaration of Independence is unquestionably one of the most powerful and persuasive documents in the history of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson's arguments are so effective because he presents the declaration in a style that is so passionate that one cannot help but to feel inspired by this one man’s motivation and courage to stand up for his country’s independence. The Declaration has remained one of the country’s most well-known pieces of text for hundreds of years because Jefferson’s extremely effective arguments continue to hold power and relevance. Many people may know the Declaration solely by the famous line: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This line is famous for good reason; it is able to unite all people under the belief that they were all created equal by the same creator, giving every single person a commonality. The Declaration is so effective because Jefferson lists concrete reasons of mistreatment of the United Colonies under the rule of the King of Great Britain. Jefferson states that: “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt out towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.” Jefferson provides solid, concrete, undeniable evidence of the extreme mistreatment that the colonies have suffered under British Rule. His style of appealing to the reader's emotions plays a big factor in the effectiveness of this powerful document.